The Sunday Paper #77

Paper of the Week: Korean Paper String

Ooh la la. This is a lovely video showing two Korean artisans, Kang Seong-hi and Kim Eun-hye twisting paper string and then weaving it into vessel forms. 

Bowls to Hold Mind are containers made of two twisted threads of mulberry paper (hanji) strips by Kim Eun-hye.

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Sponsor of the Week: Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking

From September 11 to November 20, 2015, the Robert C. Williams Museum of Papermaking presents Paper Narratives, an invitational group exhibition featuring the work of five artists: Doug Baulos, Denise Bookwalter, Kerri Cushman, Lauren Faulkenberry, and Lee Emma Running. Each artist utilizes paper as a primary ingredient to manifest their ideas. This exhibition is curated by Suzanne Sawyer. We’ll be highlighting each of the other artists in future issues of The Sunday Paper.

© Lee Emma Running 2015, Watercourse, Muslin, Cochineal, Abaca, approximately 24′ x 12′

Artist Lee Emma Running is an associate professor at Grinnell College and uses her work to investigate the beauty and complexity of natural phenomena. Running says “I fell in love with handmade paper for it’s humility, it’s process, and it’s chameleon nature. The same fiber with different treatment can behave like fabric or leather, silk or fiberglass. Handmade paper opened a way of thinking for me as an artist. My training is as a papermaker and sculptor, and now I make drawings and site-specific installations. Papermaking taught me to innovate, and to pay close attention with all of my senses. This installation is an exploration of natural dye and handmade paper, two materials for which water is primary.”

The installation base is muslin fabric hand-dyed with cochineal, an ancient dye made from insects. The color ranges from orange to purple, depending on the pH of the dye and material it is used on. When the dye is re-wet, it becomes fugitive and runs. Individual 8 x 8 sheets of stenciled abaca were couched over the muslin. As the abaca dries it contracts, pulling and puckering the fabric beneath. The paper is strong enough to give form to the fabric, and to bridge gaps between fabric panels.

Watercourse was made on site over a five-day period in August at the Paper Museum. Students, volunteers, and museum staff worked to support Lee in this exciting project. This time-lapse photo video shows the installation in only three minutes.

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In the Studio: Last November, I visited Lincoln, Nebraska where I lectured at the University, taught a workshop at Constellation Studios and began a collaboration with Karen Kunc. I’m aiming to finish my part of the collaboration before a year is up! I’ve got my 12″ x 18″ Tim Moore mould set up with the watermark image for our 8-page artists’ book. After I make the paper, Karen will design her imagery and print. Stay tuned for the results!

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I met paper engineer Becca Zerkin in Philadelphia last year at the annual meeting of the Movable Book Society. She’s doing some amazing educational programs with pop-ups. Check out the trailer for her new book, The Walking Dead, The Pop-Up Book which is not quite as gruesome as the actual show… 

Paper has always been used in clever ways in advertising. Watch how Swedish landscapes came to life through paper for a Do Something cover wrap.

If you are in the Chicago area, check out these charming Sentinels by Laurie LeBreton. “Flights of Fancy: Unexpected Works of Whimsy”, at the Northbrook Public Library, 1201 Cedar Lane, Northbrook, IL. 

The North Dakota Museum of Art is currently showing sculptural paper cuts by artist Fred Liang through December 13th. Love the shadows!

These fact-filled origami boats posted around U.K. cities and towns are spreading a larger
message about Europe’s refugee crisis. Artist Bern O’Donoghue created the art project Refugees Crossing as a way to inform people about the challenges facing refugees and migrants.

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About our sponsor: Did you know that we have a papermaking museum in America? It is Atlanta, and it is a fantastic place to visit! It is open to the public, and you can view exhibitions, take workshops and discover the amazing history of paper. For those of you who know who Dard Hunter was (if you don’t, look him up!) his collection is housed in the museum.

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